WiFi interface to dialup modem

ABSTRACT

A device and method support dialup modem access over a wireless local area and/or personal area network such as, for example, an IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n and/or IEEE 802.15.3a network. A representative embodiment permits a user of a conventional Internet web browser application to access a dialup information provider via a switched telephone network, using the wireless network. A terminal adapter comprising a wired network interface and a wireless network interface receives messaging containing dialing information from a user of a personal computer, via the wireless network. The terminal adapter establishes a dialup connection to the information provider, and exchanges information between the personal computer and the information provider via the wired and wireless interfaces. Information used for dialing may be contained within a universal resource locator received by the terminal adapter, or may be received as a result of user input on a webpage type user interface displayed by the browser application using information sent by the terminal adapter.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/144,536 titled “WIFI INTERFACE TO DIALUP MODEM” and filedJun. 3, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,756,475, issued Jul. 13, 2010, whichis hereby incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[Not Applicable]

MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE

[Not Applicable]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of wireless local area or personal area networks within home andbusiness environments such as, for example, WiFi and Bluetooth isgrowing at an ever increasing rate. Such networks provide not onlyconnectivity with other devices such as printers, computers, and cellphones, for example, but many times provide access through devices suchas, for example, wireless routers and switches, information serviceproviders located outside the premises via broadband network connectionssuch as a digital subscriber line (DSL), a cable broadband service, andlocal multi-point distribution service (LMDS). Although the percentageof homes and businesses with access to such broadband services isexpanding, there are still large numbers of users that have conventionaldialup access to information providers but cannot get broadband service,or for which broadband service is cost-prohibitive. Such users may finddialup speed access to information satisfactory, but may also wish toenjoy the flexibility and the added mobility within their living andwork spaces that may be available using a wireless local area network.

Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditionalapproaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, throughcomparison of such systems with some aspects of the present invention asset forth in the remainder of the present application with reference tothe drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system, method, and apparatus supporting dialup data communication viaa wireless local area or personal area network, substantially as shownin and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, asset forth more completely in the claims.

These and other advantages, aspects, and novel features of the presentinvention, as well as details of illustrated embodiments, thereof, willbe more fully understood from the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary communication system supporting wireless localarea and/or personal area network access to a conventional dial-upnetwork, in accordance with a representative embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary communication system for supportingwireless local area and/or personal area network access to aconventional dial-up network, in accordance with a representativeembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates another exemplary communication system for supportingwireless local area and/or personal area network access to aconventional dial-up network, in accordance with a representativeembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates yet another exemplary communication system forsupporting wireless local area and/or personal area network access to aconventional dial-up network, in accordance with a representativeembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A illustrates an exemplary communication system for supportingwireless local area and/or personal area network access to aconventional dial-up network, in accordance with a representativeembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5B shows an illustration of a display screen showing an exemplaryweb page comprising a user prompt and a directory number field that maybe displayed by an Internet browser application such as, for example,the Internet Explorer web browser application by Microsoft Corporation,in accordance with a representative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram illustrating an exemplary communicationsystem of a communication system that may correspond to, for example,the communication system of FIG. 5A, in accordance with a representativeembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates another exemplary communication system for supportingwireless local area and/or personal area network access to aconventional dial-up network, in accordance with a representativeembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8A is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating the wirelessto dialup path of a terminal adapter supporting wireless local areaand/or personal area network access via a conventional public switchedtelephone network (PSTN) loop such as, for example, the terminal adapterof FIG. 5A, in accordance with a representative embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 8B is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating thedialup-to-wireless path of a terminal adapter supporting wireless localarea and/or personal area network access via a conventional publicswitched telephone network (PSTN) loop such as, for example, theterminal adapter of FIG. 5A, in accordance with a representativeembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9A shows a flowchart illustrating aspects of an exemplary method ofoperating a communication system such as, for example, the communicationsystem of FIG. 6, that supports a wireless local area network (e.g.,WiFi) interface to a dialup modem, in accordance with a representativeembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9B shows a flowchart that illustrates additional aspects of anexemplary method of operating a communication system such as, forexample, the communication system of FIG. 6, that supports a wirelesslocal area network (e.g., WiFi) interface to a dialup modem, inaccordance with a representative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9C shows a flowchart that illustrates further aspects of anexemplary method of operating a communication system such as, forexample, the communication system of FIG. 6, that supports a wirelesslocal area network (e.g., WiFi) interface to a dialup modem, inaccordance with a representative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9D shows a flowchart illustrating additional aspects of anexemplary method of operating a communication system such as, forexample, the communication system of FIG. 6, that supports a wirelesslocal area network (e.g., WiFi) interface to a dialup modem, inaccordance with a representative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention related to the exchange of data over adialup communication network employing the Internet protocol (IP). Morespecifically, aspects of the present invention relate to a means ofsupporting flexible premises access to a dialup communication link usingwireless local area network technology.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary communication system 100 supporting wirelesslocal area and/or personal area network access to a conventional dial-upnetwork, in accordance with a representative embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 100 comprises apersonal computer (PC) 150 wirelessly linked via a radio frequency (RF)air interface 140 to a terminal adapter 130. The terminal adapter 130 iscommunicatively coupled via a conventional telephone loop 120 to apublic switched telephone network 110, and functions at least to adaptthe relatively higher data rate and wireless signaling of the airinterface 140, to the relatively lower data rate and analog modemsignaling used over the PSTN 110. The RF air interface 140 may comprise,for example, an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)802.11a/b/g, and/or n compatible air interface (a.k.a., WiFi), aBluetooth or IEEE 802.15.3a air interface, or similar wireless local orpersonal area network. Although depicted in FIG. 1 as a laptop computer,the PC 150 may also comprise a desktop computer, a handheld computer, apersonal digital assistant, or any of a variety of other form ofelectronic device having a need to connect to a remote service providervia the PSTN 110. In a representative embodiment of the presentinvention, the communication of information via the PSTN 110 may employ,for example, a point-to-point protocol such as the protocol described inInternet Engineering Task Force (IETF) document RFC-1661 (1994).

In a representative embodiment of the present invention, a user of anelectronic device such as, for example, the PC 150 of FIG. 1 may desirethe freedom to move about their residence or place of business whileusing the PC 150 to access information resources accessible via the PSTN110. Conventional access points and routers that allow wireless accessto the information resources of a wireless network typically do so viaan Ethernet or IEEE 802.3 broadband communication link, a digitalsubscriber line (DSL), a cable television network, or a satellitenetwork. A representative embodiment of the present invention permits auser of an electronic device such as PC 150 without access to one of theabove broadband data networks to enjoy mobility within the coverage areaof a wireless local area or personal area network using a conventionaltelephone network such as, for example, the PSTN 110.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary communication system 200 for supportingwireless local area and/or personal area network access to aconventional dial-up network, in accordance with a representativeembodiment of the present invention. The communication system 200 shownin FIG. 2 comprises a personal computer (PC) 250 wirelessly linked via aradio frequency (RF) air interface 240 to a terminal adapter 230. Theterminal adapter 230 is communicatively coupled via a conventionaltelephone loop 220 to a public switched telephone network 210, andfunctions at least to adapt the relatively higher data rate and wirelesssignaling of the air interface 240, to the relatively lower data rateand analog modem signaling used over the PSTN 210. The personal computer(PC) 250, radio frequency (RF) air interface 240, terminal adapter 230,and PSTN 210 may correspond to, for example, the personal computer (PC)150, radio frequency (RF) air interface 140, terminal adapter 130, andPSTN 110, respectively, shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the PC 250comprises a processor 256 with code 257. The code 257 may, for example,comprise application software, an operating system, and interface codefor the hardware circuitry of the PC 550. The application software mayinclude an Internet browser, and a dialup manager to support themanagement of dialup modem calls with dialup modem 254, for example. Theprocessor 250 is communicatively coupled to a wireless interface 252, amodem 254, and an audio interface 258. The wireless interface 252functions to exchange digital information via the RF air interface 240according to, for example, an IEEE 802.11a/b/g and/or n and/or IEEE802.15.3a wireless network protocol. The modem 254 may comprise aconventional data modem for interfacing to a telephone subscriber loop,and capable of exchanging signaling and digital data using, for example,dial pulse, dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF), and the InternationalTelecommunication Union (ITU) ANSI V.90/V.92 signaling protocols,respectively. The audio interface 258 may comprise circuitry for theanalog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion of audio signalsexchanged over link 264. The PC 250 is shown in FIG. 2 communicativelycoupled to a PC adapter 260 that may function at least to adapt thenetwork and modem signaling on the telephone subscriber loop interfaceof the modem 254, to audio signals as used by the audio interface 258.

The terminal adapter 230 of the communication system 200 of FIG. 2comprises a processor 234 with code 235. The processor 234 iscommunicatively coupled to a wireless interface 236 for communicatingvia RF air interface 240, and a PSTN line interface 232 forcommunicating via the PSTN network 210. The wireless interface 236functions at least to exchange digital information via the RF airinterface 240 according to, for example, an IEEE 802.11a/b/g and/or n,and/or IEEE 802.15.3a wireless network protocol. The PSTN line interface232 functions at least to exchange digital data and signalinginformation between the processor 234 and the analog signaling used bythe PSTN 210. In a representative embodiment of the present invention,the communication of information via the PSTN 210 may employ, forexample, a point-to-point protocol such as the protocol described inInternet Engineering Task Force (IETF) document RFC-1661 (1994).

In a representative embodiment of the present invention, the processor256 may cause digitized audio information to be exchanged between thewireless interface 252 and the audio interface 258, conveying digitalrepresentations of network and modem signaling between the modem 254 andthe terminal adapter 230 via the RF air interface 240. The signalscommunicated with the PC adapter 260 via link 262 may be the same asthose normally used in accessing an information provider when the modem254 is in direct communication with a telephone subscriber loop such as,for example, the telephone subscriber loop 220. In a representativeembodiment of the present invention, the code 235 of the processor 234may be arranged to cause the exchange of the digital representations ofnetwork and modem signaling between the wireless interface 236, and thePSTN line interface 232. The PSTN line interface 232 may function toconvert between the analog signals used in communication via the PSTN210, and the digital representations of network and modem signalingreceived and transmitted by the modem 254 of the PC 250.

FIG. 3 illustrates another exemplary communication system 300 forsupporting wireless local area and/or personal area network access to aconventional dial-up network, in accordance with a representativeembodiment of the present invention. The communication system 300 shownin FIG. 3 is similar to the communication system 200 of FIG. 2 with theexception that the functionality of the PC adapter 260 of FIG. 2 hasbeen integrated with that of the wireless interface 252 into a networkinterface 352 as adapter 358. The network interface 352 may comprise,for example, a circuit module or card such as, for example, a PersonalComputer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) or PCCardCardbus compatible card. An interconnect 353 may connect the dial-upmodem 354 to the network interface 352 to permit the exchange of thenetwork and modem signaling of the dialup modem 354 via the RF airinterface 340 using the network interface 352. The functionality of theremaining elements of the communication system 300 of FIG. 3 maycorrespond to, for example, those elements of FIG. 2 having similarnumbering (e.g., processor 334 of FIG. 3 corresponding to processor 234of FIG. 2).

FIG. 4 illustrates yet another exemplary communication system 400 forsupporting wireless local area and/or personal area network access to aconventional dial-up network, in accordance with a representativeembodiment of the present invention. The communication system 400 shownin FIG. 4 is similar to the communication system 300 of FIG. 3 with theexception that the functionality of the dialup modem 354 of FIG. 3 hasbeen integrated with that of the wireless interface 352 into a networkinterface 452. The network interface 452 may comprise, for example, acircuit module or card such as, for example, a Personal Computer MemoryCard International Association (PCMCIA) or PCCard Cardbus compatiblecard. The dialup modem 454 may, for example, employ a digital signalprocessor (not shown) in the transmission and reception of network andmodem signaling, and digital representations of such signals may beconveyed to those portions of the network interface 452 used for theprocessing of wireless signals of the RF air interface 440, withoutconversion to/from analog representations of the network and modemsignaling. Integration of the dialup modem within the network interface452 provides functionality like that of the communication system of FIG.3 without the use of the adapter 358.

FIG. 5A illustrates an exemplary communication system 500A forsupporting wireless local area and/or personal area network access to aconventional dial-up network, in accordance with a representativeembodiment of the present invention. The communication system 500A shownin FIG. 5A comprises a personal computer (PC) 550 wirelessly linked viaa radio frequency (RF) air interface 540 to a terminal adapter 530. Theterminal adapter 530 is communicatively coupled via a conventionaltelephone loop 520 to a public switched telephone network 510, andfunctions at least to adapt the relatively higher data rate and wirelesssignaling of the air interface 540, to the relatively lower data rateand analog modem signaling used over the PSTN 510. The personal computer(PC) 550, radio frequency (RF) air interface 540, and PSTN 510 maycorrespond to, for example, the personal computer (PC) 450, radiofrequency (RF) air interface 440, and PSTN 410, respectively, shown inFIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 5A, the PC 550 comprises a processor 556 withcode 557. The processor 550 is communicatively coupled to a wirelessinterface 552. The wireless interface 552 functions to exchange digitalinformation via the RF air interface 540 according to, for example, anIEEE 802.11a/b/g and/or n, and/or IEEE 802.15.3a wireless networkprotocol.

The terminal adapter 530 of the communication system 500A of FIG. 5Acomprises a processor 534 with machine-readable storage containing code535. The processor 534 is communicatively coupled to a wirelessinterface 536 for communicating via RF air interface 540, and to adialup modem 538 and PSTN line interface 532 for communicating via thePSTN network 510. The wireless interface 536 functions at least toexchange digital information via the RF air interface 540 according to,for example, an IEEE 802.11a/b/g and/or n, and/or IEEE 802.15.3awireless network protocol. The dialup modem 538 and PSTN line interface532 function at least to exchange digital data and signaling informationbetween the processor 534 and the analog signaling used by the PSTN 510.

In one representative embodiment of the present invention, the code 557of the processor 556 may, for example, comprise a software application,a conventional operating system, software to interface between theoperating system and the hardware circuitry of the PC 550 (e.g., awireless interface) such as a set of drivers, and other application codeas is used for communication via conventional wireless local area andpersonal area communication networks. For example, the code 557 maycomprise an Internet browser such as the Microsoft Internet Explorerbrowser application by Microsoft Corporation, and may operate incooperation with a compatible operating system such as, for example, theWindows operating system by Microsoft Corporation, and driver softwareto communicate via the RF air interface 540. Such communication may bethe same as that occurring when the PC 550 operates in a wireless localarea or personal area network supported by a broadband gateway, accesspoint or router providing wireless local area or personal area networkaccess a broadband network such as, for example, a DSL, cabletelevision, or satellite network as described above. In a representativeembodiment of the present invention, however, broadband network accessmay not be available. Such a representative embodiment may employ adial-up connection such as the dial-up link supported by the PSTN lineinterface 532 linked via the conventional telephone loop 520 to the PSTNnetwork 510, for example. In a representative embodiment of the presentinvention, the code 557 of processor 556 may be configured to operate asthough in a wireless local area network (LAN) situation, and may notinvolve the use of dial-up manager software as described above withrespect to the communication systems 200, 300, 400 of FIGS. 2, 3, and 4.

The terminal adapter 530 in such a representative embodiment inaccordance with the present invention may, for example, function so asto intercept and analyze (e.g., parse) hypertext transfer protocol(HTTP) messaging received by the wireless interface 536 (e.g., from thePC 550) in order to recognize a universal resource locator (URL) of aparticular form. The interception and analysis (e.g., parsing) of HTTPmessaging from the PC 550 by the terminal adapter 530 may be enabled,for example, only when the processor 534 determines that the PSTN lineinterface 532 is not currently off-hook, or that the modem 538 is notcurrently engaged in communication.

In such a representative embodiment of the present invention, theparticular form of the URL to be recognized may include an indicationthat a dialable directory number is embedded within the URL, forexample, and that the HTTP request represents a user request toestablish a modem link with a dialup service provider. For example, inone representative embodiment of the present invention, a URL of theform http://DIAL.1.630.555.1212/ may be interpreted by the terminaladapter 530 as a request to dial the directory number “1-630-555-1212”.In another representative embodiment, a URL of the form http://DIAL/ maycause the terminal adapter 530 to respond to the web browser applicationat the PC 550 with appropriate hypertext markup language (HTML) for thedisplay of a web page prompting for entry of a directory number to bedialed.

FIG. 5B shows an illustration of a display screen 560 showing anexemplary web page 574 comprising a user prompt 566 and a directorynumber field 568 that may be displayed by an Internet browserapplication 572 such as, for example, the Internet Explorer web browserapplication by Microsoft Corporation, in accordance with arepresentative embodiment of the present invention. The display screen560 may correspond to, for example, the display of the PC 550 of FIG.5A. The Internet browser application 572 may be initiated by a user inanticipation of accessing an information service provider. The web page574 may be displayed by the Internet browser application 572 in responseto, for example, an HTTP Response message received from a terminaladapter such as the terminal adapter 530 of FIG. 5A, for example. Theterminal adapter 530 may generate such messaging upon receiving the URL562 of the address field 564 in, for example, an HTTP Request message.The URL 562 may have a particular or predefined format indicating thedesire of the user to place a dialup call, as described above. The userprompt 566 of the web page 574 may instruct the user of the PC 550 toenter the directory number of the dialup service provider into thedirectory number field 568. The user may then enter a directory numberand select the DIAL button 570, which may cause the sending to theterminal adapter of an HTTP Request message posting the directory numberfield 568. The terminal adapter 530 may then use the directory numberfield in the received HTTP message to cause dialing via a conventionalPSTN line such as PSTN line 520 of FIG. 5A, for example, and connectionto the associated dialup information service provider.

In another representative embodiment of the present invention, the code557 of processor 556 in the PC 550 of FIG. 5A may be configured tooperate as though in a dial-up situation, and may employ conventionaldial-up manager software such as that described above with respect tothe communication systems 200, 300, 400 of FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. In such arepresentative embodiment, a conventional dialup manager in the code 557may, for example, employ interface code in the PC 550 that communicateswith the code 535 of the processor 534 in the terminal adapter 530, viathe wireless interface 552, RF air interface 540, and wireless interface536. Instead of directly managing a dialup modem such as, for example,the dialup modems 254, 354, 454 of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the interface codemay permit application software such as, for example, a dialup manageror Internet browser, on the PC 550 to control the behavior of the modem538 and line interface 532 in the terminal adapter 530, as though theyresided within or were in direct local communication with the PC 550.Such interface code may support the use of the RF air interface 540 forthe exchange, between the processor 556 and the processor 534, ofinformation to/from the PSTN 510 from/to a software application, and ofstatus and control information related to the establishment andmanagement of a dialup network connection by the application software onthe PC 550.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram illustrating an exemplary communicationsystem 600 that may correspond to, for example, the communication system500 of FIG. 5A, in accordance with another representative embodiment ofthe present invention. The architecture shown in FIG. 6 comprises apersonal computer (PC) 660 communicatively coupled via an RF airinterface 669 to a terminal adapter 671. Elements of the PC 660 andterminal adapter 671 that are shown in FIG. 5A such as, for example, theprocessors in PC 660 and terminal adapter 671 have been omitted, forreasons of clarity. The PC 660 and terminal adapter 671 may correspondto, for example, the PC 550 and terminal adapter 530, respectively, ofFIG. 5A. The PC 660 in communication system 600 of FIG. 6 comprises code661 that may correspond to, for example, the code 557 of the PC 550 ofFIG. 5A, and code 672 that may correspond to, for example, the code 535of the terminal adapter 530 of FIG. 5A. The code 661 and code 672 maycomprise executable code resident in machine readable storage in the PC660 and terminal adapter 671, respectively. As shown in FIG. 6, the code661 may interact with hardware circuitry of the PC 660, includingwireless interface 668 that may correspond to, for example, the wirelessinterface 552 of FIG. 5A. The code 672 may interface with the hardwarecircuitry of the terminal adapter 671 including, for example, thewireless interface 670 that may correspond to the wireless interface 536of FIG. 5A, and the modem 680 and PSTN line interface 682 that maycorrespond to the modem 538 and PSTN line interface 532, respectively,of the terminal adapter 530 in FIG. 5A.

As shown in the illustration of FIG. 6, the code 661 may compriseapplication code 662, operating system (O/S) code 664, and interfacecode 666, 667 that may handle the exchange of information for theapplication code 662 and O/S code 664. The application code 662 maycomprise, for example, an Internet browser application and a dialupmanager as described above with respect to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. Theoperating system code 664 may provide an application program interface(API) that permits the application code 662 to access the hardware ofthe PC 660 such as, for example, the wireless interface 668, byemploying the interface code 666, that may handle the exchange of datavia the wireless interface 668, and interface code 667, that may handlethe exchange of status and control information associated withestablishment and maintenance of a dialup modem link. In arepresentative embodiment of the present invention, the application code662 may function in a dialup fashion via the wireless link provided bythe wireless interface 668, RF air interface 669, and wireless interface670, without requiring changes to the application code 662 from thatused with a dialup modem that is local to the PC 660. The API providedby the operating system 664 and employed by the application code 662 maybe unchanged from that employed in communication systems such as thoseshown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. In a representative embodiment of thepresent invention, the interface code 666, 667 may be arranged to makethe remotely located modem 680 and PSTN line interface 682 appear as adialup modem local to the PC 660. The interface code 666, 667 may bearranged to cooperatively use the wireless interface 668 to exchangeboth data, and status and control information via the RF air interface669 with the terminal adapter 671.

In a representative embodiment of the present invention, the code 672 ofthe terminal adapter 671 of FIG. 6 may comprise operating code 678, andinterface code 674, 676. The interface code 674, 676 may, for example,function to cooperatively exchange data, and status and controlinformation, via the wireless interface 670, RF air interface 669, andthe wireless interface 668, with the interface code 666, 667,respectively, in the code 661 of, for example, the PC 660. Thecommunication of status and control information between the interfacecode 667 at the PC 660, for example, and the interface code 676 in theterminal adapter 671, for example, permits the application code 662 toestablish and maintain a dialup modem link using the modem 680 and lineinterface 682 of terminal adapter 671, for example, as if the dialupmodem functionality were physically present at the PC 660. For example,a user of a software application such as, for example, an Internetbrowser may wish to establish a dialup link to an Internet serviceprovider (ISP) via a public switched telephone network connection likethe PSTN 690. The user may employ a dialup manager such as that providedby the Windows operating system, for example, and may provide adirectory number associated with the ISP. The status and controlinformation normally exchanged between application code such as theapplication code 662 (e.g., an Internet browser) and a dialup modemresident on a PC such as, for example, the PC 250 of FIG. 2, may insteadbe exchanged with the hardware circuitry of the modem 680 and the PSTNline interface 682, via the operating system 664, the interface code667, the wireless interface 668, the RF air interface 669, the wirelessinterface 670, the interface code 676, and the operating code 678.

A representative embodiment of the present invention may conveyout-of-band status and control signals such as, for example,request-to-send (RTS) and clear-to-send (CTS) that may, for example, beused in an information flow control mechanism, by communicating suchstatus and control information between the interface code 667 of the PC660, and the interface code 676 of terminal adapter 671. For example,the terminal adapter 671 may have limited buffer space for thetransmission of application data via the PSTN 690. Application code 662and/or O/S code 664 may, for example, employ RTS/CTS flow control inmanaging information flow when in communication using a dialup modem ona PC such as, for example, a PC with a directly connected dialup modem.A representative embodiment of the present invention may conveyout-of-band status and control signals such as, for example, RTS, CTS,data set ready (DSR), data terminal ready (DTR), CD (carrier detect),ring indicator (RI), and a variety of others between a terminal adaptersuch as the terminal adapter 671 of FIG. 6 and a PC such as the PC 660of FIG. 6, by employing the interface code 667, 676, the wirelessinterfaces 668, 670, and the RF air interface 669. The states and/ortransitions of out-of-band signals such as those listed above may berepresented in messaging exchanged between the interface code 667 at thePC 660, and the interface code 676 at the terminal adapter 671. In thismanner, the application code 662 and/or O/S 664 may exchange such statusand control information with the remotely located modem 680 and PSTNline interface 682, via the interface code 676 and operating code 678.This permits a representative embodiment of the present invention towirelessly communicate flow control and other out-of-band signalsbetween a PC at a first location, and a terminal adapter at a secondlocation, via a wireless LAN.

Another representative embodiment of the present invention may supportin-band signaling supporting functionality such as, for example, flowcontrol. In such an arrangement, the interface code 666, 667 at the PC660, and the interface code 674, 676 at the terminal adapter 671 may,for example, be cognizant of predefined values of data employed by theapplication code 662 and/or O/S 664 for flow control purposes. In arepresentative embodiment of the present invention, the interface code666, 667 on PC 660, and the interface code 674, 676 may support in-bandsignaling for flow control and similar functionality. For example, datavalues representing industry conventions XON and XOFF (e.g.,DC1/hexadecimal 11 and DC2/hexadecimal 13) may be employed. Other datavalues and in-band signaling functionality may also be supported withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In a similar fashion, the data that might typically be exchanged betweenthe application code 662 (e.g., the Internet browser) and an ISP usingan internal or directly connected dialup modem of a PC such as the PC250 of FIG. 2, for example, may instead be exchanged with the ISP, viathe operating system 664, the interface code 666, the wireless interface668, the RF air interface 669, the wireless interface 670, the interfacecode 674, the operating code 678, the modem 680, and the PSTN lineinterface 682. Together, the interface code 674 and the operating code678 may, for example, operate to perform adaptation of the protocol usedover the wireless interface 670 (e.g., TCP/IP) from/to the protocol usedfor data information exchanged via the PSTN network connection 690 usingthe modem 680 and PSTN line interface 682 such as, for example, supportof a point-to-point (PPP) dialup protocol such as the IETF RFC-1661protocol described above. Although the above discussion has provided anexample where the application code 662 comprises an Internet browser,this does not represent a specific limitation of the present invention.A representative embodiment of the present invention may be employedwith a variety of software applications without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates another exemplary communication system 700 forsupporting wireless local area and/or personal area network access to aconventional dial-up network, in accordance with a representativeembodiment of the present invention. The communication system 700 shownin FIG. 7 is similar to the communication system 500 of FIG. 5A andcommunication system 600 of FIG. 6, with the exception that terminaladapter 730 of FIG. 7 also comprises a wired network interface 737communicatively coupled to a personal computer (PC) 760. As in thecommunication system 500 of FIG. 5A, the communication system 700 shownin FIG. 7 comprises a personal computer (PC) 750 wirelessly linked via aradio frequency (RF) air interface 740 to a terminal adapter 730. Theterminal adapter 730 is communicatively coupled via a conventionaltelephone loop 720 to a conventional public switched telephone network(PSTN) 710, and functions at least to adapt the relatively higher datarate and wireless signaling of the air interface 740, and the relativelyhigher data rate of the wired link 739 coupled to the wired interface737, to the relatively lower data rate and analog modem signaling usedover the PSTN 710. The wired link 739 may comprise, for example, a wiredEthernet link compatible with IEEE 802.3. The personal computer (PC)750, the radio frequency (RF) air interface 740, the terminal adapter730, and the PSTN 710 may correspond to, for example, the personalcomputer (PC) 550, the radio frequency (RF) air interface 540, theterminal adapter 530, and the PSTN 510, respectively, shown in FIG. 5A.As shown in FIG. 7, the PC 750 comprises a processor 756 withmachine-readable storage containing code 757. The processor 756 iscommunicatively coupled to a wireless interface 752. The wirelessinterface 752 functions to exchange digital information via the RF airinterface 740 according to, for example, an IEEE 802.11a/b/g and/or n,and/or IEEE 802.15.3a wireless network protocol.

The terminal adapter 730 of the communication system 700 of FIG. 7comprises a processor 734 with machine-readable storage containing code735. The processor 734 is communicatively coupled to a wirelessinterface 736 for communicating via RF air interface 740, and to adialup modem 738 and PSTN line interface 732 for communicating via thesubscriber loop 720 and the PSTN network 710. The wireless interface 736functions at least to exchange digital information via the RF airinterface 740 according to, for example, an IEEE 802.11a/b/g and/or n,and/or IEEE 802.15.3a wireless network protocol. The dialup modem 738and PSTN line interface 732 function at least to convert digital dataand signaling information between the processor 734 and the analogsignaling compatible with the PSTN 710. In a representative embodimentof the present invention, the communication of information via the PSTN710 may employ, for example, a point-to-point protocol such as theprotocol described in Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) documentRFC-1661 (1994).

In a representative embodiment of the present invention, the terminalinterface 730 may support access by either or both of PC 750 and PC 760to dialup information service providers via the PSTN 710. Arepresentative embodiment of the present invention may also supportcommunication between the PC 750 and the PC 760 via air interface 740and wired link 739.

FIG. 8A is a flowchart 800A of an exemplary method of operating thewireless to dialup path of a terminal adapter supporting wireless localarea and/or personal area network access via a conventional publicswitched telephone network (PSTN) loop such as, for example, theterminal adapter 530 of FIG. 5A, in accordance with a representativeembodiment of the present invention. As an aid to understanding themethod illustrated in FIG. 8A, the following discussion makes referenceto the elements of FIGS. 5A and 5B. The method of FIG. 8A begins when aterminal adapter having a wireless interface such as, for example, theterminal adapter 530 with wireless interface 536 is powered up (block810). At some later point in time, the terminal adapter 530 receives amessage via the wireless network supported by the wireless interface 536such as, for example, the RF air interface 540 (block 812). The messagemay be, for example, an HTTP message, and the wireless network may be,for example, an IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n-compatible wireless area network oran IEEE 802.15.3a-compatible personal area network.

Upon receipt of the message, it is determined whether a dialupconnection via, for example, the modem 538 and the PSTN line interface532 is already established (block 814). If a dialup connection isalready established, the received message may be forwarded via thedialup connection (block 816). If, however, a dialup connection is notalready established, a check is made whether the universal resourcelocator (URL) in the message matches a URL designated for use inestablishing dialup connections such as, for example, “http://DIAL/”(block 818). If the URL in the message is not the designated URL, themessage may be ignored, and the method of FIG. 8A may end (block 830).If, however, the URL does match the designated URL, a check may be madeto determine whether the terminal adapter 530 is waiting for a responsefrom the user of the web browser that is wirelessly communicativelycoupled to the terminal adapter 530. If the terminal adapter 530 is notwaiting for a user response, the terminal adapter 530 may send a webpage prompting the user to enter the directory number of a dialupinformation service provider (block 822).

If the terminal adapter 530 is waiting for a user response, adetermination is made whether the message contains a directory number(block 824). If the message does not contain a directory number, themessage may be ignored, and the method of FIG. 8A ends (block 830). Ifthe received message does contain a directory number, the terminaladapter 530 dials the directory number (block 826), and establishes aconnection with the dialup information service provider (block 828). Themethod of FIG. 8A then ends (block 830). Although the illustration ofFIG. 8A shows the method as ending, the method may be part of a loopthat is repeatedly performed in order to cause communication of messagesbetween the wireless interface 536 and the PSTN line interface 532, forexample.

FIG. 8B is a flowchart 800B of an exemplary method of operating thedialup-to-wireless path of a terminal adapter supporting wireless localarea and/or personal area network access via a conventional publicswitched telephone network (PSTN) loop such as, for example, theterminal adapter 530 of FIG. 5A, in accordance with a representativeembodiment of the present invention. As an aid to understanding themethod illustrated in FIG. 8B, the following discussion makes referenceto the elements of FIGS. 5A and 5B. The method of FIG. 8B begins when aterminal adapter having a wireless interface such as, for example, theterminal adapter 530 with wireless interface 536 is powered up (block850). At some later point in time the terminal adapter 530 may determinewhether a dialup connection is established via the PSTN line interface532 (block 852). If a dialup connection is not presently active andestablished, the method may end (block 858). If, however, a dialupconnection is established, a check may be made as to whether a messagehas been received via the dialup connection, for example, via modem 538and PSTN line interface 532. If a message has not been received, themethod of FIG. 8B may end (block 858). If, however, a message has beenreceived and is ready to be forwarded, the terminal adapter 530 mayforward the received message via the wireless interface 536 to, forexample, the wireless interface 552 of the PC 550. Once the message hasbeen forwarded, the method of FIG. 8B then ends (block 858). Althoughthe illustration of FIG. 8B shows the method as ending, the method maybe part of a loop that is repeatedly performed in order to causecommunication of messages between the PSTN line interface 532 and thewireless interface 536, for example.

FIG. 9A shows a flowchart 900A illustrating aspects of an exemplarymethod of operating a communication system such as, for example, thecommunication system 600 of FIG. 6, that supports a wireless local areanetwork (e.g., WiFi) interface to a dialup modem, in accordance with arepresentative embodiment of the present invention. The method of theflowchart 900 of FIG. 9A may be employed in situations in whichapplication code such as, for example, a dialup manager or an Internetbrowser engages in interaction with a dialup modem on a PC (block 901).Such an interaction may involve the establishment of a dialup link, thechecking of status of a dialup modem, or the sending of application datavia the dialup modem, for example. In the leftmost column of theillustration of FIG. 9A, the application code may perform an applicationprogram interface (API) call to the operating system (O/S) of thepersonal computer (PC), requesting a particular action by the dialupmodem (block 902). The action may comprise going off-hook and dialing adirectory number of an Internet service provider, or establishing amodem-to-modem connection, for example. The O/S may pass the request andany parameter(s) involved to interface code comprising a dialup modemdriver (block 904). The interface code may correspond to, for example,the interface code 667 of FIG. 6. In a representative embodiment of thepresent invention, the dialup modem driver may, for example, direct sucha request over a wireless network instead of directly controlling alocal dialup modem connected to the PC. The dialup modem driver maypackage the request and any parameter(s) involved into a message fortransmission via the wireless network (block 906). The dialup modemdriver may identify the message type as a control message (block 908).The message may then be queued for transmission to a terminal adaptersuch as, for example, the terminal adapter 671 of FIG. 6 (block 926)

At another time, the application code may desire to check the status ofthe dialup modem, and may perform an API call to the O/S of the PC,requesting status of the dialup modem (block 910). This may include, forexample, whether all information has been sent, or whether dial tone ora carrier of a distant modem has been detected. The O/S may pass thestatus request and any parameter(s) involved to the dialup modem driver(block 912). In a representative embodiment of the present invention,the dialup modem driver may, for example, direct such a status requestover a wireless network instead of directly accessing status informationfrom a local dialup modem connected to the PC. The dialup modem drivermay package the status request and any parameter(s) involved into amessage for transmission via the wireless network (block 914). Thedialup modem driver may identify the message type as a status requestmessage (block 916). The message may then be queued for transmission toa terminal adapter such as, for example, the terminal adapter 671 ofFIG. 6 (block 926).

At yet another time, the application code may desire to send applicationdata via the communication link provided by the dialup modem, and mayperform an API call to the O/S of the PC, for transmission ofapplication data (block 918). The application data may comprise, forexample, a query of a remote database, or information send by anInternet browser. The O/S may pass the application data and anyparameter(s) involved to the dialup modem driver (block 920). In arepresentative embodiment of the present invention, the dialup modemdriver may, for example, direct the application data and parameter(s)over a wireless network instead of directly transmitting the applicationdata via a local dialup modem connected to the PC. The dialup modemdriver may package the application data and any parameter(s) involvedinto a message for transmission via the wireless network (block 922),and may identify the message type as an application data message (block924). The message may then be queued for transmission to a terminaladapter such as, for example, the terminal adapter 671 of FIG. 6 (block926).

FIG. 9B shows a flowchart 900B that illustrates additional aspects of anexemplary method of operating a communication system such as, forexample, the communication system 600 of FIG. 6, that supports awireless local area network (e.g., WiFi) interface to a dialup modem, inaccordance with a representative embodiment of the present invention.The flowchart 900B of FIG. 9B illustrates processing by a terminaladapter such as, for example, the terminal adapter 671 of FIG. 6 of themessaging sent by a PC as discussed above with respect to FIG. 9A. Theflowchart 900B begins following power-up of the terminal adapter (block930). The terminal adapter may receive, via a wireless network, amessage from a PC such as, for example, the PC 660 of FIG. 6 (block931). The terminal adapter may determine the type of the receivedmessage such as, for example, a control message, a status requestmessage, and an application data message (block 932). In the case of acontrol message, the terminal adapter may proceed in the leftmost pathof FIG. 9B, and may perform the requested action on the dialup modem inthe terminal adapter (block 934). This may include, for example, goingoff-hook and dialing a directory number of an Internet service provider,or establishing a modem to modem connection. After performing such anaction, the terminal adapter may package a result of the requestedaction into messaging for transmission, via the wireless network, to thePC 660 (block 936). The terminal adapter may identify the message as astatus information type message (block 937), and may then queue themessage for transmission, via the wireless network, to the PC (block950). The method of FIG. 9B then ends (block 952).

If the terminal adapter determines that the received message is a statusrequest message (block 932), the terminal adapter may determine thestatus of the dialup modem of the terminal adapter (block 938). Theterminal adapter (e.g., the terminal adapter 671) may then package therequested status information into a message for transmission to the PCvia the wireless network (block 940). The message may be identified bythe terminal adapter as being a status information type message (block942), and may then be queued for transmission to the PC via the wirelessnetwork (block 950). The method of FIG. 9B then ends (block 952).

If the terminal adapter determines that the received message is anapplication data type message (block 932), the terminal adapter mayconvert the format of the message from that used for the protocol of thewireless network, to that used for the protocol of the dialup network(block 946). This may involve conversion from a packet protocol for useon an IEEE 802.11b wireless LAN to a point-to-point protocol (PPP) orother protocol suitable for use via a ANSI V.92 dialup modem connection,for example. The terminal adapter (e.g., the terminal adapter 671) maypackage status information about the processing and transmission of theapplication data, via the dialup modem link into a message fortransmission to the PC via the wireless network (block 946), that may beidentified as a status information type message (block 948). The statusinformation message may be queued for transmission to the PC 660, forexample, via the wireless network (block 950). The method of FIG. 9Bthen ends (block 952).

FIG. 9C shows a flowchart 900C that illustrates further aspects of anexemplary method of operating a communication system such as, forexample, the communication system 600 of FIG. 6, that supports awireless local area network (e.g., WiFi) interface to a dialup modem, inaccordance with a representative embodiment of the present invention.The flowchart 900C of FIG. 9C illustrates processing by a terminaladapter such as, for example, the terminal adapter 671 of FIG. 6 ofmessages and events that are to be communicated to a PC such as, forexample, the PC 660 of FIG. 6, discussed above. The flowchart 900Cbegins following power-up of the terminal adapter (block 960). Theterminal adapter may determine whether a dialup connection is currentlyestablished (block 961). If a dialup connection is not currentlyestablished, the method may loop to check again. If a dialup connectiondoes exist, the terminal adapter may determine whether data has beenreceived via a dialup modem (block 962). If data has not been received,a check may be made whether a change in dialup modem or line status hasoccurred (block 968). If no change in dialup modem or line status hasoccurred, the method of FIG. 9C may loop back to continue checking. If,however, a change in dialup modem or line status has occurred, theterminal adapter may package status information into a message fortransmission to the PC (e.g., the PC 660) (block 970). The terminaladapter may identify the message as status information (block 972), andmay queue the message for transmission via the wireless network link(block 974). The method of FIG. 9C then ends (block 976).

If data has been receive via the dialup modem link (block 962), theterminal adapter may convert the received data from dialup protocolformat to a format suitable for use on the wireless local area networklinking the terminal adapter and the PC (block 964). The terminaladapter may then identify the message as an application data message(block 966), and may queue the message for transmission to the PC, viathe wireless network (block 974). The method of FIG. 9C then ends (block976).

FIG. 9D shows a flowchart 900D illustrating additional aspects of anexemplary method of operating a communication system such as, forexample, the communication system 600 of FIG. 6, that supports awireless local area network (e.g., WiFi) interface to a dialup modem, inaccordance with a representative embodiment of the present invention.The method of flowchart 900D in FIG. 9D may be employed in situations inwhich application code such as, for example, a dialup manager or anInternet browser engages in interaction with a dialup modem on a PC(block 980). In the discussion of FIG. 9A, above, the communicationsystem is processing control, status, and application datacommunications destined for the dialup modem. In the followingdiscussion, the communication system is processing status informationand application data communications destined for a PC such as, forexample, the PC 660 of FIG. 6. In the illustration of FIG. 9D, a PC(e.g., the PC 660) employing the method may receive a message from aterminal adapter (e.g., the terminal adapter 671), via a wirelessnetwork (block 982). Interface code (e.g., driver software) in the PCmay determine the type of the received message (block 984). If thereceived message is determined to be a status information message, theinterface code (e.g., driver software) may pass the status informationto the operating system (O/S) (block 986), that may then provide thestatus information to application code (e.g., an Internet browser ordialup manager), via the application programming interface (API) used torequest the status information (block 988). The application code maythen process the received status information as though it was receivedfrom a dialup modem local to the PC (block 989). The method illustratedin FIG. 9D then ends (block 994).

If the interface code determines that the received message isapplication data (block 984), the interface code (e.g., driver software)may pass the application data to the O/S (block 990), that may thenprovide the application data to the application code that originated theAPI call (block 992). The application code may then process the receivedapplication data as though it was received from a dialup modem local tothe PC (block 993). The method illustrated in FIG. 9D then ends (block994).

Aspects of the present invention may be found in a terminal adapterdevice comprising at least one wireless interface for communicating viaat least one of the following: a local area network and a personal areanetwork, and a dialup modem for communicating via a conventionalswitched telephone network. A representative embodiment of the presentinvention may comprise at least one processor communicatively coupled tothe at least one wireless interface and to the dialup modem, andmachine-readable storage. The machine-readable storage may becommunicatively coupled to the at least one processor, and may comprisefirst executable code for causing the at least one processor toselectively communicate user information between the at least onewireless interface and the dialup modem. The at least one wirelessinterface may communicate according to an Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard, and may communicateaccording to an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)802.15.3a or compatible standard. The device may implement an Internetbrowser compatible user interface for dialing a directory number, andthe user interface may be accessible via the at least one wirelessinterface.

In a representative embodiment of the present invention, a directorynumber for dialing via the dialup modem may be communicated via the atleast one wireless interface using a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP).The directory number may be communicated as part of a universal resourcelocator (URL). The dialup modem may be compatible with one of theInternational Telecommunication Union (ITU) V.90 and V.92 standards. Thefirst executable code may communicate via the at least one wirelessinterface with second executable code in machine readable storage of apersonal computer, and communication between the first and secondexecutable code may enable application code on the personal computer toutilize the dialup modem as if the dialup modem were an operablecomponent of the personal computer. The state of at least oneout-of-band signal may be communicated between the first executable codeand the second executable code via the at least one wireless interface.The at least one out-of-band signal may comprise one of the following: aclear to send signal, a request to send signal, a data terminal readysignal, a data set ready signal, a carrier detect signal, and a ringindicator signal. The at least one out-of-band signal may be used forcontrolling flow of the user information.

Additional aspects of the present invention may be seen in a method ofoperating a device supporting dialup access from a wireless local areanetwork. Such a method may comprise wirelessly receiving a message, at afirst location, via the wireless local area network, parsing dialinginformation from the message, at the first location, and establishingmodem communication, at the first location via a wired network, usingthe dialing information. A representative embodiment of the presentinvention may also comprise converting user information between a packetprotocol and a dialup modem protocol, at the first location, andwirelessly exchanging user information between the first location and asecond location. The wireless local area network may comprise one of thefollowing: an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)802.11 compatible network and an Institute of Electrical and ElectronicsEngineers (IEEE) 802.15.3a compatible network. The dialing informationmay comprise a dialable number in a conventional switched telephonenetwork, and the wired network may comprise a conventional switchtelephone network.

In a representative embodiment of the present invention, the dialupmodem protocol may comprise one of the following: an InternetEngineering Task Force (IETF) RFC-1661 compatible point-to-point (PPP)protocol, an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) V.90 protocol,and an ITU V.92 protocol. A representative embodiment of the presentinvention may also comprise sending, via the wireless local areanetwork, information representative of a web page user interface. Theuser interface information may be compatible with a conventionalInternet web browser application. A representative embodiment inaccordance with the present invention may comprise communicating atleast one out-of-band signal between the dialup modem and the secondlocation, and the at least one out-of-band signal may comprise one ofthe following: a clear to send signal, a request to send signal, a dataterminal ready signal, a data set ready signal, a carrier detect signal,and a ring indicator signal. The at least one out-of-band signal may beused for controlling flow of the user information.

Still other aspects of the present invention may be observed in amachine-readable storage, having stored thereon a computer programhaving a plurality of code sections executable by a machine for causingthe machine to perform the operations described above:

As can be seen from the illustrations of the figures and the descriptionprovided herein, a representative embodiment of the present inventionprovides wireless mobility to subscribers with dialup access to Internetservice provider services, using conventional personal computingequipment having wireless local area and/or personal area networkingcapability. Although the example provided above has been simplified forreasons of clarity, additional features and functionality may beprovided without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

The present invention may also be embedded in a computer programproduct, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation ofthe methods described herein, and which when loaded in a computer systemis able to carry out these methods. Computer program in the presentcontext means any expression, in any language, code or notation, of aset of instructions intended to cause a system having an informationprocessing capability to perform a particular function either directlyor after either or both of the following: a) conversion to anotherlanguage, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different materialform.

While the present invention has been described with reference to certainembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. In addition, manymodifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material tothe teachings of the present invention without departing from its scope.Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited tothe particular embodiment disclosed, but that the present invention willinclude all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A system comprising: at least one processor that enablescommunicative coupling to at least one wireless interface forcommunicating via one or both of a local area network and/or a personalarea network and to a modem for communicating via a wired communicationnetwork, the at least one processor operable to, at least: wirelesslyreceive a message; parse information for establishing a connectionthrough the wired communication network from the message; establish aconnection through said modem using the information for establishing aconnection; and selectively communicate user information between the atleast one wireless interface and the modem.
 2. The system according toclaim 1 wherein communication via the at least one wireless interface isaccording to or compatible with an Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard published on or before Jun.3,
 2005. 3. The system according to claim 1 wherein communication viathe at least one wireless interface is according to or compatible withan Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.15.3a orcompatible standard published on or before Jun. 3,
 2005. 4. The systemaccording to claim 1 wherein the system implements an Internet browsercompatible user interface for entering a network address on the wiredcommunication network, the user interface accessible via the at leastone wireless interface.
 5. The system according to claim 1 wherein anetwork address for transmission via the modem is communicated via theat least one wireless interface using a hypertext transfer protocol(HTTP).
 6. The system according to claim 5 wherein the network addressis communicated as part of a universal resource locator (URL).
 7. Thesystem according to claim 1 wherein first executable code of the systemcommunicates via the at least one wireless interface with secondexecutable code in machine readable storage of a personal computer, andwherein communication between the first and second executable codeenables application code on the personal computer to utilize the modemas if the modem were an operable component of the personal computer. 8.The system according to claim 7 wherein the state of at least one signalthat is not user information is communicated between the firstexecutable code and the second executable code via the at least onewireless interface.
 9. The system according to claim 8 wherein the atleast one signal that is not user information comprises one or more ofthe following: a clear to send signal, a request to send signal, a dataterminal ready signal, a data set ready signal, a carrier detect signal,and/or a signal to initiate an incoming connection.
 10. The systemaccording to claim 8 wherein the at least one signal that is not userinformation is used for controlling flow of the user information.
 11. Acomputer-readable medium, having stored thereon a computer programhaving a plurality of code sections for operating a system supportingaccess to a wired communication network from a wireless network, thecode sections executable by a processor for causing the processor toperform operations comprising: wirelessly receiving a message using oneof a local area network and a personal area network; parsing, from themessage, information for establishing a connection through the wiredcommunication network; establishing a connection through a modem to thewired communication network using the information for establishing aconnection; and selectively communicating user information between thewireless network and the wired network using the modem.
 12. Thecomputer-readable medium according to claim 11 wherein wirelesscommunication is according to or compatible with an Institute ofElectrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard published onor before Jun. 3,
 2005. 13. The computer-readable medium according toclaim 11 wherein wireless communication is according to or compatiblewith an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)802.15.3a or compatible standard published on or before Jun. 3, 2005.14. The computer-readable medium according to claim 11 wherein thesystem implements an Internet browser compatible user interface forentering a network address on the wired communication network, the userinterface accessible via the wireless network.
 15. The computer-readablemedium according to claim 11 wherein a network address for transmissionvia the modem is communicated over the wireless network using ahypertext transfer protocol (HTTP).
 16. The computer-readable mediumaccording to claim 15 wherein the network address is communicated aspart of a universal resource locator (URL).
 17. The computer-readablemedium according to claim 11 comprising first executable code thatcommunicates via the wireless network with second executable code incomputer-readable medium of a personal computer, and whereincommunication between the first and second executable code enablesapplication code on the personal computer to utilize the modem as if themodem were an operable component of the personal computer.
 18. Thecomputer-readable medium according to claim 17 wherein the state of atleast one signal that is not user information is communicated betweenthe first executable code and the second executable code via thewireless network.
 19. The computer-readable medium according to claim 18wherein the at least one signal that is not user information comprisesone or more of the following: a clear to send signal, a request to sendsignal, a data terminal ready signal, a data set ready signal, a carrierdetect signal, and/or a signal to initiate an incoming connection. 20.The computer-readable medium according to claim 18 wherein the at leastone signal that is not user information is used for controlling flow ofthe user information.
 21. A method for operating a system supportingaccess to a wired communication network from a wireless network, themethod comprising: wirelessly receiving a message using one of a localarea network and a personal area network; parsing, from the message,information for establishing a connection through the wiredcommunication network; establishing a connection through a modem to thewired communication network using the information for establishing aconnection; and selectively communicating user information between thewireless network and the wired network using the modem.
 22. The methodaccording to claim 21 wherein wireless communication is according to orcompatible with an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers(IEEE) 802.11 standard published on or before Jun. 3,
 2005. 23. Themethod according to claim 21 wherein wireless communication is accordingto or compatible with an Institute of Electrical and ElectronicsEngineers (IEEE) 802.15.3a or compatible standard published on or beforeJun. 3,
 2005. 24. The method according to claim 21 wherein the systemimplements an Internet browser compatible user interface for entering anetwork address on the wired communication network, the user interfaceaccessible via the wireless network.
 25. The method according to claim21 wherein a network address for transmission via the modem iscommunicated over the wireless network using a hypertext transferprotocol (HTTP).
 26. The method according to claim 25 wherein thenetwork address is communicated as part of a universal resource locator(URL).
 27. The method according to claim 21 comprising first executablecode that communicates via the wireless network with second executablecode in computer-readable medium of a personal computer, and whereincommunication between the first and second executable code enablesapplication code on the personal computer to utilize the modem as if themodem were an operable component of the personal computer.
 28. Themethod according to claim 27 wherein the state of at least one signalthat is not user information is communicated between the firstexecutable code and the second executable code via the wireless network.29. The method according to claim 28 wherein the at least one signalthat is not user information comprises one or more of the following: aclear to send signal, a request to send signal, a data terminal readysignal, a data set ready signal, a carrier detect signal, and/or asignal to initiate an incoming connection.
 30. The method according toclaim 28 wherein the at least one signal that is not user information isused for controlling flow of the user information.